Free Untamed by Sharon Ihle

so little grounds. Even if it were true, Long Belly would have one hell of a time catching such a beast if he ever spotted it, especially since this lone bison had apparently eluded hunters and ranchers for so long. Because Long Belly, a tracker without equal, had identified hoofprints that couldn't easily be mistaken for another animal's, Daniel had to at least make a show of rejoicing with him.
    "Congratulations, brother. May your next hunt be a complete success."
    The Cheyenne patted Sissy's hair with near reverence, as close to affection as be ever got. Then he said, Buffalo Hair should be congratulated, not me. She is like a goddess and will be treated as one."
    He then led her to a chair and carefully eased her onto the seat. Daniel couldn't help but notice that through it all, the dusky-skinned whore had kept her thoughts to herself. Even her expression was a careful blank, revealing nothing of the woman within.
    Josie, who'd been as silent and stunned as Daniel throughout Long Belly's passionate explanation, moved over by the table and stared down at her friend.
    "Are you all right, Sissy?" she asked.
    Long Belly immediately stepped between the two women. "Buffalo Hair is weary and must rest. You may tend to her needs, but do not bother her with your woman's chatter."
    With that he turned away from an even more stunned Josie and said to Daniel, "One of these cattle who roams the hills, a small one that won't be missed by his owner, insisted on following this great warrior on the return home. We will eat well during this bad storm."
    "Oh, damnit Long Belly." Daniel rapped the Boor with one of his crutches. "How many times do I have to tell you that stealing cattle from the ranches around here is not the same thing as stealing horses? It is not a test of your bravery and skill. All it does it irritate the white folks and make them more determined than ever to run us off this land. Is that what you want?"
    His head held high, long broad nose pointed regally upward, Long Belly ignored the entire complaint. He turned to Josie instead, sounding as imperious as he looked, and said, "This calf who sacrificed himself for our table is waiting for you in the barn. You will clean him, taking care not to damage the hide."
    Josie, who'd worn a frightened, cornered look since Long Belly strode into the room, was suddenly a mass of conflicting expressions—chief of which was that damned defiance that reminded Daniel so much of his departed wife. Unlike Tangle Hair, this woman didn't seem to recognize her place.
    Cheyenne women never forgot their status and unfailingly performed the tasks expected of them—fixing meals, tanning hides, sewing clothing, and even setting up the tipis in which they lived. Long Belly was raised in such a manner, his every need tended to by the women of his tribe, and unfortunately he expected the same of all females, white, brown, or red.
    Daniel knew better than that, of course, not that the knowledge made Josie's presence any easier to bear. Tangle Hair would never, ever have refused to cook his meals or sew and clean his clothing. Like Josie, however, she was given to fits of insolence. If the woman smelled so much as a drop of whisky on Daniel's breath or took exception to something he said, she would chase him out of his own tipi until she was good and ready to let him back in again. So strong of will was she, in fact, that Tangle Hair had once actually fed Blackrobe, the Catholic priest at the mission, then thrown him out of her tipi in a rage because he failed to compliment her cooking.
    His Cheyenne wife's attitude was one of defiance. The same was true of Josie. Daniel watched her carefully, wondering if fear or insolence would run her tongue when she finally addressed Long Belly's demands. And what his stubborn brother-in-law would do in return should defiance win out.
    Growing impatient, Long Belly clenched his fists and took a step toward Josie. "You will do this now," he demanded of her. "Or